Comments on: OC Using Stimulus Funds to Widen the 91 http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/08/03/oc-using-stimulus-funds-to-widen-the-91/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Erik G. http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/08/03/oc-using-stimulus-funds-to-widen-the-91/comment-page-1/#comment-18981 Erik G. Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:38:47 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=6011#comment-18981 CA 91 is not an Interstate. No "I-91". And just watch the asphalt-heads look suprised as cars appear from "nowhere" to fill up any added capacity; a story which has been repeated again and again all over the world. CA 91 is not an Interstate. No “I-91″.

And just watch the asphalt-heads look suprised as cars appear from “nowhere” to fill up any added capacity; a story which has been repeated again and again all over the world.

]]> By: Steven Chan http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/08/03/oc-using-stimulus-funds-to-widen-the-91/comment-page-1/#comment-18841 Steven Chan Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:07:28 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=6011#comment-18841 I could think of plenty of other projects that OCTA should've focused on rather than this freeway, such as Bravo! bus shelters and (gasp!) ticket machines, Metrolink parking lots, restoring the shuttered Santa Ana Transit Terminal to work with CNG buses, or even capital equipment for real-time bus tracking systems (like that on Long Beach Transit and San Francisco Muni). I could think of plenty of other projects that OCTA should’ve focused on rather than this freeway, such as Bravo! bus shelters and (gasp!) ticket machines, Metrolink parking lots, restoring the shuttered Santa Ana Transit Terminal to work with CNG buses, or even capital equipment for real-time bus tracking systems (like that on Long Beach Transit and San Francisco Muni).

]]> By: DJB http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/08/03/oc-using-stimulus-funds-to-widen-the-91/comment-page-1/#comment-18701 DJB Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:26:37 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=6011#comment-18701 I'm very surprised to hear that transit spending was more popular in the OC poll than highway spending, that's really cool. All of this highway spending in the stimulus just proves that "shovel ready" is a poor substitute for good. Economic stimulus policy shouldn't work against environmental and health goals like promoting alternatives to the car. With regard to your point about uncritical reporting, it reminds me of something I read in Logan and Molotch's Urban Fortunes (1987). Namely, local papers tend to have an interest in local growth, because more local growth means more readers and more money. More freeways, more sprawl, increased circulation (pun intended). Building freeways to reduce traffic is like a hamster running on its wheel. I’m very surprised to hear that transit spending was more popular in the OC poll than highway spending, that’s really cool. All of this highway spending in the stimulus just proves that “shovel ready” is a poor substitute for good. Economic stimulus policy shouldn’t work against environmental and health goals like promoting alternatives to the car.

With regard to your point about uncritical reporting, it reminds me of something I read in Logan and Molotch’s Urban Fortunes (1987). Namely, local papers tend to have an interest in local growth, because more local growth means more readers and more money. More freeways, more sprawl, increased circulation (pun intended).

Building freeways to reduce traffic is like a hamster running on its wheel.

]]> By: Rosemary http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/08/03/oc-using-stimulus-funds-to-widen-the-91/comment-page-1/#comment-18691 Rosemary Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:25:23 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=6011#comment-18691 Aye yi yi. As a former OC resident, I can only shake my head at this latest attempt in improving transportation. Widening freeways takes FOREVER--the 91/5 expansion near Buena Park has been going on for as long as I can remember. And while I'm not advocating quick, short term fixes, widening freeways seems like more of a headache than anything else. It may interest those not familiar with the OC area to know that the WIDEST, most drivable stretch of freeway in OC is the 5 around Disneyland. Aye yi yi. As a former OC resident, I can only shake my head at this latest attempt in improving transportation. Widening freeways takes FOREVER–the 91/5 expansion near Buena Park has been going on for as long as I can remember. And while I’m not advocating quick, short term fixes, widening freeways seems like more of a headache than anything else. It may interest those not familiar with the OC area to know that the WIDEST, most drivable stretch of freeway in OC is the 5 around Disneyland.

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